Federal Judge Blocks DOGE From Accessing Sensitive U.S. Treasury Department Data | EUROtoday

A federal decide early Saturday blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department information that include delicate private information resembling Social Security and checking account numbers for thousands and thousands of Americans.

U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer issued the preliminary injunction after 19 Democratic attorneys basic sued President Donald Trump. The case, filed in federal courtroom in New York City, alleges the Trump administration allowed Musk’s crew entry to the Treasury Department’s central fee system in violation of federal regulation.

The fee system handles tax refunds, Social Security advantages, veterans’ advantages and far more, sending out trillions of {dollars} yearly whereas containing an expansive community of Americans’ private and monetary information.

Engelmayer, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, additionally mentioned anybody prohibited from getting access to the delicate data since Jan. 20 should instantly destroy all copies of fabric downloaded from Treasury Department programs.

He set a listening to for Feb. 14.

The White House beforehand didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the lawsuit being filed.

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, also referred to as DOGE, was created to find and eradicate what the Trump administration has deemed to be wasteful authorities spending. DOGE’s entry to Treasury information, in addition to its inspection of varied authorities companies, has ignited widespread concern amongst critics over the growing energy of Musk, whereas supporters have cheered on the thought of reining in bloated authorities funds.

Musk has made enjoyable of criticism of DOGE on his X social media platform whereas saying it’s saving taxpayers thousands and thousands of {dollars}.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose workplace filed the lawsuit, mentioned DOGE’s entry to the Treasury Department’s information raises safety issues and the chance for an unlawful freeze in federal funds.

“This unelected group, led by the world’s richest man, is not authorized to have this information, and they explicitly sought this unauthorized access to illegally block payments that millions of Americans rely on, payments for health care, child care and other essential programs,” James mentioned in a video message launched by her workplace Friday.

James, a Democrat who has been one among Trump’s chief antagonists, mentioned the president doesn’t have the ability to provide away American’s personal data to anybody he chooses, and he can not minimize federal funds accredited by Congress.

Also on the lawsuit are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

The swimsuit alleges that DOGE’s entry to the Treasury information may intrude with funding already appropriated by Congress, which might exceed the Treasury Department’s statutory authority. The case additionally argues that the DOGE entry violates federal administrative regulation and the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine.

It additionally accuses Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of adjusting the division’s longstanding coverage for shielding delicate personally identifiable data and monetary data to permit Musk’s DOGE crew entry to its fee programs.

“This decision failed to account for legal obligations to protect such data and ignored the privacy expectations of federal fund recipients,” together with states, veterans, retirees, and taxpayers, the lawsuit says.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong mentioned it’s not clear what DOGE is doing with the knowledge within the Treasury programs.

“This is the largest data breach in American history,” Tong mentioned in a press release Friday. “DOGE is an unlawfully constituted band of renegade tech bros combing through confidential records, sensitive data and critical payment systems. What could go wrong?”

The Treasury Department has mentioned the evaluate is about assessing the integrity of the system and that no modifications are being made. According to 2 individuals conversant in the method, Musk’s crew started its inquiry searching for methods to droop funds made by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which Trump and Musk are trying to dismantle. The two individuals spoke with The Associated Press on situation of anonymity for worry of retaliation.

Separately, Democratic lawmakers are in search of a Treasury Department investigation of DOGE’s entry to the federal government’s fee system.

Also, labor unions and advocacy teams have sued to dam the funds system evaluate over considerations about its legality. A decide in Washington on Thursday briefly restricted entry to 2 workers with “read only” privileges. ___ Associated Press author Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.